Portland’s own Blues Brothers will appear at the Waterfront Blues Fest with their Bluesmobile for photos and autographs Saturday morning
Gates open at the annual concert in Tom McCall Waterfront Park at 11 a.m. every day from Thursday, July 4, to Sunday, July 7. It benefits Meals on Wheels People and the Jeremy Wilson Foundation, which supports musicians and music industry workers in times of medical need.
KOIN 6 News has been promoting the charitable event with a series of commercials inspired by the 1980 movie “The Blues Brothers” featuring longtime reporters and anchors Jeff Gianola and Ken Boddie, who is now the station’s political director. Put together by station producer Derek Lyon, they pay tribute to the movie’s stars, John Belushi as “Joliet” Jake Blues and Dan Akroyd as his brother Elwood, by dressing in the same matching black suits and hats with white shirts, and driving a rusty 1970 Plymouth Satellite standing in for their iconic ex-cop car in the movie.
“Our audience is really resonating with these promos, and it's delightful to witness how many people are appreciating them,” Lyon told the Portland Tribune, which is a news partner of KOIN 6 News.
Jeff and Ken will appear in costume with the car from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday, July 6, near the main entrance.
According to Lyons, ads bring “The Blues Brothers” full circle. The movie was directed by John Landis, who previously filmed the 1978 movie “Animal House” in Eugene. Belushi was among the actors, supercharging his career. While there, Belushi met and was inspired by blues musician Curtis Salgado, who was living in Eugene at the time. Salgado, who now lives in Portland, is playing the Waterfront Blues Fest on Sunday.
"There are so many connections between Oregon and the Blues Brothers, that it felt like a natural fit,” Lyons said of the ads. “Curtis Salgado, a Waterfront Blues Fest mainstay, was a Eugene-based blues musician in the 70's when he met John Belushi. Salgado taught Belushi how to play and became the visual inspiration for the iconic Blues Brothers look.”
After John died following the release of “The Blues Brothers,” his brother Jim picked up the mantle of portraying half of the Blues Brothers, started a cannabis farm in Oregon, and became a regular special guest of the Waterfront Blues Fest.
“We originally wanted Jim to appear in the promo spots, but we weren't able to make his schedule work, but we did get his blessing to have Jeff and Ken portray the famous Blues men,” said Lyons.
The ads recreate key scenes from the movie, including having Ken and Jeff driving through town announcing the “rhythm and blues review” through a large loudspeaker mounted in the roof of their car and handing out posters bearing their images. One commercial also recreates a crucial scene from the 1996 movie “Happy Gilmore,” which Lyon previously incorporate in a series of commercials promoting the Portland Winterhawks because star Adam Sadler played a struggling hockey player-turned-golf pro.
“The Blues Brothers” is a musical action comedy that is based on the blues-loving characters first created by Aykroyd and Belushi on “Saturday Night Live” that spun off into a popular touring act. The script is set in and around Chicago, where it was filmed. It tells the story of the redemption of blues singer and ex-con Jake, who, along with his brother and singer/harmonica player Elwood, agree to undertake “a mission from God" to prevent the foreclosure of the Roman Catholic orphanage where they were raised.
To do so, the brothers must reunite their previous R&B band and organize a concert to raise the $5,000 needed to pay the orphanage's property tax bill. Standing in their way are a homicidal mystery woman played by Carrie Fischer, neo-Nazis headed by Arte Johnson, and a country and western band whose gig they stole, all while being pursued by legions of police led by John Candy, and, eventually, the Illinois National Guard.
The movie celebrates the blues with performances by such legendary musicians as James Brown, Cab Calloway, Aretha Franklin, and John Lee Hooker. Even the Blues Brothers band include Steve Cropper and Donald “Duck” Dunn, who backed Booker T. and Otis Redding, among many others.
Filming for the ads took place at Meriwether National Golf Course and in front of Music Millenium, where owner Terry Currier appears with a stack of records of some of those scheduled to play at the Blues Fest, including Ben Harper. Lyon said his wife spotted the car while picking up their son at school. Owner John Delgado, a mechanic, appear in one ad picking up a poster.
“These spots were crafted with passion and support from amazing teams. They are not a solo effort but a result of extensive planning, coordination with many people, hard work from skilled professionals, and a stroke of luck from the movie gods. The ideas come from years of family movie nights, brainstorming with friends and family, collaborating with talented individuals, and a deep love for National Lampoon’s. It's about dedicated teams of artists pursuing their passion every day. It represents a blend of cinematic inspiration, creative teamwork, and a shared love for storytelling. As Matthew Rosenfeld, Senior Vice President & Regional Manager of Nexstar TV aptly put it, “Broadcasting is a team sport, so congratulations to everyone,” Lyon said.
More information on the Waterfront Blues Fest is available at their website .
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